Kashmir on road to become 'Valley of hope' for startups: Ex-NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant has lauded the significant changes witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir after the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019. Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, has said that Kashmir has the potential of becoming the 'Valley of hope' for startups, especially after recent ‘radical’ transformation on the ground.“I have been coming here for a long time, and I have seen the period of stone pelting, hartals, and violence.
And I see a very radical transformation (post 370) on the ground here," Kant, who visited the Valley, told local daily Greater Kashmir.On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government abrogated the Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, was abrogated, and the erstwhile state was divided into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.Also Read: Kashmir News: After Srinagar, Baramulla breaks voter turnout record with 59 % polling, highest since 1984“I discussed this with the Lieutenant Governor. He is very keen that we constantly do unique things in Kashmir.
And I suggested to him, we should get the top CEOs and do a CEOs retreat on resilience and reinvention in Kashmir. We should also do a very major meet of all start-ups, the top start-ups and amplify the start-up movement in Kashmir because Kashmir is the ‘Valley of Hope’ for all start-ups," said Kant who met L-G Manoj Sinha on May 21.
Kant appreciated L-G Sinha's administration for ensuring free, fair, and safe elections. This remark comes days after Srinagar and Baramulla seats of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed record voter turnout in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.Jammu and Kashmir, without an elected government since 2018, is currently administered by the Centre's appointee Lieutenant Governor
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